I felt compelled to write this article tonight because I am so saddened to hear of the death of someone who has truly changed my life. We had never even met. But I know her impact on my life. Candice Pert, thank you. For your books, for your wisdom, for your heart.
I don’t know about you, but I look at all of the wonderful people in the world who are making a huge difference, and my efforts seem so insignificant compared to theirs.
This brought up a question for me. Are you doing what you are doing because you want to be one of these people?
I have to confess, yes, eventually. There is a part of me that wants to be a Thought Leader! There, I’ve said it.
In my defence, (I’m having a defensive argument with myself going on here), a thought leader is someone who simply challenges the mainstream way of thinking that we have all ‘bought into’ in the past. Yep, well if that is the case, I want to be one. Is that so wrong? The more visible you are, the more people you can help. Ah feeling good. Oh-oh, my ego has just come romping into the equation:
“You are a self serving, arrogant little so and so! How could you possibly ever be in a group like that? Who would listen to YOU? These amazing people are CREDENTIALED. They almost have whole alphabets after their names. They are scientists! Well known in their field. They are revered! You have a music degree… OK, you’ve spent the last 12 years studying metaphysics, EFT and Matrix Re-imprinting. You’ve invested a zillion dollars travelling all around the world, studying with the best, accumulating all sorts of certificates and accreditation, but truly, who’s going to ever pay attention to you? Just who do you think you are? ”
How incredibly harsh my ego mind is. And how often I listen to it and buy into it’s take on things.
When I strip it all back, it’s simple. Of course we’d all love to be up there with the creme de la creme. And it’s fun envisioning that. You can learn from those who have gone before you and it’s great to have role models.
However, fame should not be the driving force. Your purpose should be the driving force. We all get to decide what’s important to us, and spend our energy there. Some people become well known, and some don’t. My question is, does it matter?
I am remembering my father here.
In my arrogant youth, there were often times when I thought, ‘You could be leading such a bigger life.’ But I have learned that he WAS leading the bigger life. He had worked out what was important to him , and put his energy there.
He had no public profile, he had no grand vision, he was just a Dad who was always there with his trusty toolkit to help all of his kids: helping build sets for shows that I was producing, build decks, paint cupboards, fix something, make toys each Xmas for the ‘poor kids’, being ‘Santa’ each year, lend us all of us 5 kids money when we needed it:) He was just Dad. In his garage, pottering away. Choosing what he chose.
It doesn’t matter if you are a ‘Candice Pert’ or my father, ‘Gillie Gilbertson’. Both had worked out what was important to them. That’s where their energy went. And they were both beautiful human beings.
Contribution is not equated to public profile. Contribution is directly related to what you want it to be, and living it. I’m no longer worrying too much about joining the elite thought leaders of our world. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’ve been living my truth and that’s pretty much all that matters.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Does fame drive you? Does it scare you? Does it stop you? Please comment, and share with your community. I can sit here and write in my little world, but it is your thoughts that keep me going,
With love,
- My Go To Remedy When Life’s Tough - March 5, 2015
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What a lovely and thought provoking post! I am right there with you, in a battle with my ego. I would love to be a well known Thought Leader…because I have so much to share with the world! But I also know that through my actions my teachings will spread to the people who will benefit the most. I like this: “Your purpose should be the driving force.” I will focus on that!
Thanks for you comments Deanna!
Hi Julie,
I think I’d like to separate fame from respect. I personally would not care for fame Hollywood style. But if my words were respected, (i.e. they’d have an impact on someone, in a positive sense), then I totally don’t mind being respected, whether it’s by 1 person or half of the universe. 🙂 And I do believe that education is no reflection of true respect (not based on how many degrees you have, but what you really know and how you respect the people around you, with and without degrees). So please, don’t worry about the education part and just speak from your heart, as you’ve done so far. My optimistic self tells me that people will notice and be attracted to you!
And all the best to you on your path!
– Karo
Loved your ‘half the universe’ comment Karo ~ made me laugh! J x
Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for the what i would call ” a kick up the backside post” I know I am here to play a bigger game and to push forward past the ego speak and ‘ don’t get to big for your boots” from my childhood- interesting that came up and yes Who do you think you are? from my Mother who was out there a her own “thought leader way” as was acknowledged after her passing publicly. I relate to much of what you have written here
love
Suziexx
Hey Suzie, I too had the ‘don’t get too big for your boots thing’. It’s taken me years to shake it off, still working on it! It;s interesting that we’re both now pushing our own boundaries, it’s like sheer defiance. Our true selves are yelling to be heard. I was going to put ‘our true selves are revolting’, but it could be misread:)!! Thanks for your comments~ J x
Totally hear you on this one Julie. And I love your realness and this fabulous post. Each of us has our own sense of what matters, alphabet soup letters not withstanding. And we have our ways of shrinking our service. Claiming bigness is often a challenge. We are divine, gifted and each of us has the potential to reach an audience. I fear being to big, or I have. It has taken a lot of work to keep small, and there is in me the knowledge that size doesn’t matter, it is totally about contribution and finding a space that is perhaps bigger than we are comfortable in, until we make it just right. And then we leap again. Maybe it is more about rising to the top because it is a natural thing to float.
This is something I often have to remind myself of… If I have helped even 1 person, I have done enough… I do think we often desire the recognition but in the end, that is what matters …. a small difference 🙂 <3 Mimi
Yes, all those small difference add up Mimi, thanks for your comments!
This is what I thought I used to want as well. And I noticed that it actually scared the hell out of me and so prevented me from doing my “little” work in the world. Now I am exactly where you are – if it happens then so be it, if it doesn’t that’s ok too. I just want to contribute as much as I can this lifetime and whatever that ends up looking like is fine with me!
Great minds think alike it seems Laura 🙂 Being cheeky now!
Those cruel egos – they just don’t leave us alone! I used to think I wanted fame, or something “big” (whatever that means). I have lots of degrees and credentials, but that didn’t satisfy. I came to realize that the message that only “big” counts came from my mother, and it blocked my ability to value and enjoy the “small” as it came into my creative world. I’ve contributed a lot through my teaching, not through products that bring fame. The human connections have been a source of such pleasure and sense of contributing.
I think I had the opposite from my Mum Judy!. Even though she was a beautiful person, her influence was confusing. She supported us to go for things, but there was always this other thing of ‘Don’t get too big for your own good’. Hmm. MOTHERS!! 🙂 I think we can value big and small together. Anything that makes you feel good! Really appreciate your comments J , x